ESPN Reporter Calls Out Bell as First Source for $1M Super Bowl Eagles Bet Story

ESPN reporter David Payne Purdum on Tuesday claims Vegas odds provider and betting industry analyst RJ Bell was not the person who first claimed that a high roller plunked down $1 million on the Philadelphia Eagles for Super Bowl 52.

Purdum's ESPN.com piece failed to credit Bell and the later questioned why.

Bell tweeted:

Many are asking why this story about the return of the World Series Let-It-Ride bettor failed to credit that his return was first reported by me last week. Good question.

Purdum tweeted in response:

Ouch!

Purdum credits Covers.com for the Eagles bet tip while noting that other Vegas casinos have reported Super Bowl bets on the Eagles money line ranging from between $500,000 and $700,000.  Money line bets require a team to win outright.  Since the Eagles are an undedog, the payout would be $1.65 million with a win.

The high roller in question took Las Vegas for millions on the World Series last October. 

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com